Card perforating machine



Aug. 23, 1938. R, E OTT 2,127,681

I CARD PERFORATING MACHINE Filed June 8, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 4 ffloeni'or, jig/4 Rm 5 Sheets-$heet 2 R. ELLiOTT Filed June 8, 1956 CARD PERFORATING MACHINE Aug. 23, 1938.

HUI I DH Patented Aug. 23, 1938 UNITED STATES ATENT orries OARD PERFORATING MACHINE Roff Elliott, Watertown, Mass.

Application June 8,

26 Claims.

the copending applications of Harmon P. Elliott,

Serial No. 69,803, filed March 20, 1936, and Serial No. 75,118, filed April 18, 1936.

Such addressing machines are arranged to record on a record sheet, usually concurrently with the recording of an address, selected items of statistical information denoted by the relative position of marks formed on the record sheet under control of perforations located in selected differently positioned zones of the address bearing. stencil or printing device. The stencil or printing device is provided with a plurality of differently positioned zones, each zone representing a different item of statistical information and adapted to have a perforation when such item is to be indicated on the record sheet.

vOne of the objects of the present invention is an improved machine for selectively perforating ister with zones of the card selected at will by the operative and caused to be operated to form a perforation in the card when located in any selected position.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a reciprocating punch operating plate that confronts the perforating receiving zone of the stencil and has an area approximately coextensive with the area of such zone and a punch interposed between said plate and the card or stencil and capable of being located in any selected zone of the card and operated by the plate.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a card perforating machine having a single movable punch and an index plate divided into zones corresponding in number and position to the perforation receiving zones of the stencil, and means so arranged that when a pointer is positioned at a selected zone of the index plate 1936, Serial No. 84,149

corresponding zone of the card whereby to effect the perforating of such selected zone.

Another object of the invention is a card perforating machine comprising an index plate having zones corresponding in position and number to the perforation receiving zones of the card, punching mechanism including a pointer movable into register with a selected zone of the plate for positioning a punch in register with the corresponding zone of the card, and means controlled by the pointer for effecting a punching operation of the mechanism.

A yet further object of the invention is the provision of a card perforating machine having a perforating device and indexing means controlling both the position of the perforating device with respect to the card to be perforated, and the operation of' said device.

Another object is generally to improve the construction and operation of card Perforating 1 machines.

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the perforating machine embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional detail of the machine taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1. v

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the middle portion 0 the machine and illustrating particularly the in-- dex plate and the punch positioning mechanism.

Fig. 4 is a sectional detail of the operating mechanism for the punch reciprocating member taken along line 4- -4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation of the perforation selecting pointer.

Fig. 6 is a detail of the supporting bearing for the pantograph linkage connecting the pointer and punch, taken along line 65 of Fig. 3.

As illustrated in Fig. 3, the card or printing device comprises a stencil l6 having in one portion a stencil sheet l8 bearing an address 20, and in another portion a series of zones 22, the different positions of which denote different statistical items. The zones 22 are arranged in horizontal and vertical columns and are consecutively numbered as at 24.

The stencil herein shown has provision for one hundred and five zones although the precise number is of no particular importance to the present invention. Each zone is preferably provided with a mark as a small circle 26 printed thereon for indicating the location of a possible perforation. When the stencil is perforated by the machine of the present invention such marks 26 are not necessary. They are desirable, however, for indicating the location of a perforation that may be formed subsequently by hand.

III

The stencil is adapted toreceive perforations 28 in selected zones. The perforations control the passage of marking members through the stencil and into pressure applying relation with a record sheet thereunder for the purpose of making a mark on the record sheet in a location corresponding to the location of a perforation, The marks thereby indicate by their position on the record sheet the items of information denoted by the perforated zones of the stencil.

The machine for perforating the stencil comprises a table 30, see Figs. 1, 2 and 3, supported on uprights 32 and having its operative parts operated by a power device 34, now common in the art. The power device includes a continu ously rotating shaft 36 and an intermittently rotating shaft 38, the latter shaft being arranged to make one complete revolution per operation and then to stop. The rotation is under control of a pedal 40, which when depressed and subsequently released effects one complete rotation of the shaft 38.

A collection of the stencils l6. preferably with the addresses 20 thereon is contained in a holder i2 disposed at one end of the table 3!) and in register with the entranceof .a stencil track formed by a pair of horizontally spaced guide rails M which are spaced above the table. The successive lowermost stencils of the holder are advanced in successive order into and along the track by a reciprocating pusher 46. Said .pusher is reciprocated by a vertical lever 48 pivoted to the frame of the machineat 50 and connected to the pusher by a link 52. The lever is reciprocated by means including an eccentric 54 which is fixed to and is rotatable with the shaft '38. The eccentric has an eccentricstrap 58 that is swiveled to the end of a pivoted arm 58 that reciprocates a lever fifl bearing against the lever 48 and connected thereto through a tension spring 62. The arrangement of the arm 58, lever 60' and spring 62 issuch as to. permit reciprocation of the parts as a unit under ordinary conditions but'to permit the lever to stop reciprocation if astencil or printing device should jam in the track M. The perforated stencils are discharged from the end of the track into a stencil receiver 64.

The successive stencils rest momentarily sta-. tionary in the middle portion of the track where they are operated upon by the punching or perforating mechanism. Said mechanism includes a bracket 66 fixedto and upstanding above the table 30 alongside and in the rear of thestencil track. Said bracket is provided with a-pair of parallel bosses 68 in which apairof vertical rods H! are reciprocable. A punch operating member 12 is fixed to the upper ends of the rods by means including nuts 74 .and reciprocates with the rods. Said member 12 is in the form of a fiat plate which is positioned above and overlies substantially completely the entire perforation receiving zones of thestencil.

The lower ends of therods below the table are connected by a plate 18. The rods are reciprocated by toggle mechanism which includes a bracket 88 fixedto said plate 18 between the rods. A pair of toggle links 82 are pivoted at 84 to. said bracket .and have their upper ends disposed .between and pivotally connected at 86 with the short arm .88 of a bell-crank lever. Said bell crank lever is pivoted on a shaft 90 carried by a bracket 92 fixed to the underside of the table 3!]. The long arm 94 of said bell crank lever extends rearwar'dly of the machine and is pivotally connected to the upper end of a rod 96. The

lower end of the rod is connected to an eccentric strap 58 operating on an eccentric llll) journalled loosely on a shaft 502. Said shaft is rotatably supported in bearings Hi4, see especially Fig. 1, and is continuously rotated from the continuously rotating shaft 36 of the power mechanism by means of pulleys W8, W8, and the belt H0.

The eccentric 805 is adapted to be connected with the shaft N32 for rotation therewith by means of a ratchet Hi2 fixed to the shaft on one side of said eccentric. A collar H4 fixed to said shaft on the other side of said eccentric serves to hold said eccentric from axial displacement. Said ratchet l i2 is provided with a series of teeth i it, four teeth being here shown. Said teeth are adapted to engage a pawl H8 fixed to a shaft E28 pivoted in and extended through the eccentric. Said shaft has an arm I22 fixed thereto on the other side of the eccentric which is engaged by a tension spring H24 that continually biases said pawl formovement towards the ratchet. When the pawl is engaged with a tooth of the ratchet the ratchet and eccentric are rotated conjointly. When, however, the pawl is disengaged from a ratchet tooth the eccentric remains stationary with the eccentric-at the top of its stroke. The reciprocation of theeccentr'ic serves to straighten andcollapse the operating toggle consisting of the links 32 and the short bell crank arm 8% and thereby reciprocates the punch operatingplate lfitoward and away from the stencils.

The engagement of the pawl I N3 with and its disengagement from the ratchet HZis efiected by means of an electromagnet 126. carried'by the plate l3 and having an armature or core i253 movable into-and out of the magnet. Said core is connected to and reciprocates a slide bar I39 which slides in a bracket I32 fixed-in the under side of saidplate, l8 and hasits rear end disposed in the path of rotation of the latch i it. A tension spring 1344 is connected with said slide bar we and serves normally to maintain the slide bar and the armature in a retracted position. In this position therear end of the slide bar can be engaged by the latch 0 it as it rotates. The operation is such that the. rotation of the eccentric Idisc see with the latch in engagement with the slide bar, and also the upward movement of the bar, causes the withdrawal of the latch from engagement with a ratchet tooth, thereby freeing the eccentric from the continuously rotating shaft Hi2 and holding theeccentric and the mechanism associated therewith from further movement. When, however, the electromagnet 26 is energized the armature or core I23 'is moved to retracted position and the end of the slide bar H39 is pulled out from under the nose of the latch H8. The latch spring l'2 lfthen becomes operative to swing the latch into-engagement with the ratchet to cause -the latch to be engaged by a ratchet tooth and carried around therewith. The electromagnet is intended to' be but momentarily ener ized so that the slide bar is positioned in the path of rotation of the latch before the'latch has made a complete revolution. Hence the slide bar 'is in position to beengaged by the latch and to cam it out of engagement with the ratchet upon the completion of a single revolution, thereby to stop further reciprocation of the mechanism. The bar also holds the mechanism stationary with the eccentricatthe top of its stroke.

'In accordance with this invention a single punch device H4 is employed. Said punch device is carried by a system of copying linkages and particularly a pantograph system of pivotally connected links comprising the long punch carrying link I76, and the shorter link H8. Said links are maintained in parallel relation by a pair of long and short cross links I and I82, respectively, which are pivoted to the links [l6 and I78. The inner end of the link I18 is secured to a flange M30 located in a recess of the table 36 formed on the upper end of a relatively long stud shaft I journalled in a bearing block E88 secured to the underside of the table, see especially Fig. 6. This arrangement provides a steady pivotal support for the pantograph. The free end of the lever I80 is terminated in a pointer I00 hereinafter to be more fully described. The pointer, punch and axis of the pantograph linkage are in the same line and consequently the punch is caused to faithfully follow the move-- carries at its rear end the major part of the punch device I'M. The punch device I14 comprises a barrel I94 which is fixed in and upstands above the rear end of said furcation H60; and

carries a cylindrical punch rod Ififi the lower end of which is capable of being projected below the furcation Ilsa and through a stencil thereunder and into the passage I02 of the underlying furcation 5102). The punch rod 6% is urged continually upwardly by a helical spring I08 that encircles the rod within the barrel and bears against a shoulder 200 of the rod. The rod projects upwardly above the top of the barrel in a position to be engaged by the reciprocating plate I2 and moved downwardly through the stencil.

It will be apparent that by moving the pointer I00 of the pantograph linkage the punch will be correspondingly moved and thus can be positioned into register with any selected perforation receiving zone 22 of the stencil to form a perforation therein.

The pointer I00 is movable over an index plate 202 carried by a shelf 232 of the table 30. Said index plate is divided into perforation indicating zones 204, there being as many such zones as there are corresponding'zones 22 of the stencil and the relative disposition of such zones corresponding to the zones of the stencil. The index plate zones are consecutively numbered as at 206, corresponding to the numbering 24 of the zones of the stencil except that the numbers are oppositely arranged. That is to say, while number one zone, for instance, of the stencil, occu pies the uppermost left hand corner thereof. number one zone of the index plate, occupies the right hand corner. By positioning the pointer I of the pantograph system in register with any selected zone of the index plate, the punch I'M will be caused to be positioned in register with the corresponding zone of the stencil.

Each zone 204 of the index plate isprovided with a recess 208 preferably of conical or tapered accidental displacement during the punching operation. 1

The pointer I90, see especially Fig. 5, comprises a bushing 2I0 secured in and upstanding above the free endof the link I80. A plunger 2I2 is reciprocable within said bushing and has a conical or tapered lower end 2M adapted to be dei pressed into seating engagement with any recess 208 of the index plate. Said plunger has an enlarged head or flange 2I6 at its upper end which is located movably within a cap 2I8. A heavy helical spring 220 is located within the cap between the upper end thereof and the head 2H5 and a lighter helical spring 222 is located under said head 2 I6 and on the end of the bushing 2 I0. The cap is provided'with a vertically elongated slot 224 within which a screw 226, screwthreaded into the bushing, is located whereby to limit the vertical displacement of the cap. The spring 222 normally holds the plunger 2I2 and the end cap in the uppermost positions thereof with the bottom wall of the slot 224 against the limit screw 226. the light spring 222 yields causing the end of the plunger 2 M to enter and seat in a depression 208 of the index plate in register with the plunger.

The cap 2IB carries an axially located circuit controlling contact pin 228 which is axially movable within the plunger 2I2 and normally is held by the spring 220 with its lower end withdrawn within the lower end of the plunger. When, however,'the lower end of the plunger is seated in a recess 203 further depression of the cap 2H3 causes the flexing of the spring 220 and thereby permits the movement of the pin downwardly beyond the end of the plunger and into the bottom of the recess 288 and intoengagement with the metallic contact plate 230 which underlies the index plate and is accessible through all of the recesses 200 therein. Said plate 230 is suitably insulated from the frame of the machine as by the shelf 232, which is of insulating material. Said plate 230 is connected in series with the terminal of the solenoid I26 and a suitable power source 230a by a conductor 230?). The other terminal of the solenoid is grounded to the machine frame by a conductor 2300. Thus the en ergizing circuit for the solenoid is completed by engagement of the pin 228 with said plate 2230, thereby to effect a punching operation, said pin being mechanically and electrically connected to the machine frame through the links I80 and H8.

The operation of the machine is simple. The operative momentarily depresses the pedal 40 to effect the movement of a stencil into perforating position under the plate I2 and pointer I00 is then moved into position above a selected recess 208 of the index plate and the plunger 2I2 is positioned therein. The punch is thereby positioned in register with the corresponding perforation receiving zone of the stencil and at the same time is held against accidental sidewise dis placement. The cap 2 it is then further depressed momentarily to bring the pin 228 into engagement with the plate 230, thereby to effect energization of the solenoid I26 and a single punching o'perationof the plate E2. The pointer is then moved into a different position on the index plate and the operation is repeated until the desired perforations have been placed on the stencil. After all desired perforations have been formed in the stencil the pedal 00 is then again momentarily depressed and the perforated stencil is moved out of perforating position and a new stencil is positioned therein.

I claim: I

1. A card perforating machine adapted to for By pressing the cap 2 I8 downwardly i perforations in differently positioned perforation receiving zones, selected at will, of a stationary card, comprising a shiftable punchdevice positionable in register with the zones of said card selected at will, and a reciprocable punch operating member reciprocable into and out of operative relation with said punch device in any selected position thereof for effecting'the operation thereof, said punch operating member being stationarily located with respect to the zone-selecting movements of said punch device, and said punch device being movable into any selected zone relatively to said punch operating member.

2. A card perforating machine adapted to form perforations'in differently positioned perforation receiving zones, selected at will, of a card, comprising a reciprocable punch operating plate overlying the card, and a punch device located between said plate and card and characterized by being freely movable under said plate and over said card into register with the zones of said card selected at will, and means for effecting reciprocation of said plate into and out of operative relation with said punch device.

3. A card perforating machine adapted to form perforations in differently positioned perforation receiving zones, selected at will, of a stationary card, comprising a shiftable punch device movable into register with the zones of the card selected at will, a stationarily-located reciprocating member movable into operative relationwith said punch device for operating it to perforate the card'in any selected position of the device, and means for effecting reciprocation of said member, said punch device being movable into any selected zone relatively to said reciprocating member.

l. A card perforating machine adapted to form perforations in differently positioned perforation receiving zones, selected at will, of a card, comprising a punch device movable into register with the zones of the card selected at will, a reciprocating member engageable with said. punch device for operating it in any position thereof, and means for positioning said punch device comprising an index plate having perforation indicating zones corresponding to the zones of the card, a pointer movable over said plate into register with the zones thereof selected at will, and copying mechanism interconnecting said pointer and punch device for positioning said punch device in register with a zone of the card corresponding with the zone of said index plate in register with said pointer by movement relatively to said reciprocating member.

5. A card perforating machine adapted to form perforations. in differently positioned perforation receiving zones, selected at will, of a card, comprising a punch device movable into register with the zones of the card selected at will, a reciprocating member engageable with said punch device for operating it in any position thereof, and means. for positioning said punch device comprising an index plate having perforation indicating zones corresponding to the zones of the card, a pointer movable over said plate into register with the zones thereof selected at will, and copying mechanism interconnecting said pointer and punch device for positioning said punch device in register with a zone of the card corresponding with the zone of said index plate in register with said pointer, said copying mechanism comprising a pantograph linkage having a link which carries said punch and another link which carries said pointer.

vice associated with said linkage and movable thereby into positions corresponding with positions of said pointer, means for supporting a card in operative relation with said punch device in any selected position thereof, and means independent of said linkage for operating said punch device in any selected position thereof.

7. A card perforating machine comprising card supporting means, a punch device having cooperating parts located on opposite sidesof said supporting means, said punch device being movable into register with. selected parts of a card in said supporting means, means for selectively positioning said punch device in register with selected parts of the card comprising'an index plate having a plurality of perforation indicating zones, a pointer movable over said plate into register with selected zones thereof, copying mechanism connecting said pointer and punch device, and electro-means for operating said punch device in any selected position thereof.

8. A "card perforating machine comprising card supporting means, a bifurcated link having its furcations disposed on opposite sides of said card supporting means, a punch device having parts carried by both of said furcations, a pointer operatively connected with said link for moving said punch device into register with selected parts of the card, an index plate cooperating with said pointer and having means thereon defining perforation indicating zones of the card, and means independent of said link for operating said punch device in the various selected positions thereof.

9. A card perforating machine comprising an index plate having differently positioned perforation indicating zones, a copying linkage including a link having a pointer movable over said index plate into register with selected zones thereof, said linkage also including a bifurcated link, a punch device having cooperating parts carried by the'furcations: of said link, a card guide way located between said furcations, and a stationarily-located reciprocating punch operating member engageable with-said punch device in different selected positions thereof.

10. A' card perforating machine comprising a card guide way, a reciprocating punch operating plate disposed in said guide way 'and'reciprocable toward and away therefrom, a link, a punch device carried by said link under said plate and movable with said link into various positions under and in operative position with respect tosaid plate, 'means for effecting reciprocatory movement of said plate into and out of operative card holding means, a punch device movable over a card in said means, power mechanism for operating said punch device in any selected position thereof, and copy mechanism carrying said punch device and including an index plate for'setting said punch device in different predetermined posilit) " thereof, and means controlled by said manually operated means for efiectin'g the operation of said power means."

13. A'card perforating machine comprising a card holder,'a punch device movable into different positions with respect to acard in said holder, means including a pointer for moving said punch device into various selected positions, power means for operating said punch device in any position thereof, and means controlled by said pointerfor activating said power means to efiect a punching operation of said punching device.

14. A card perforating machine comprising a card holder, a punch device movable into different positions with respect to a card in said holder,

means including a pointer for moving said punch device into various selected positions, power operating mechanism for said punch device, and means operated by said pointer for effecting the operation of said mechanism.

15. A card perforating machine comprising acard holder, a punch device movable into different positions with respect to a card in said holder, copy mechanism carrying said punch device and including a pointer for moving said punch device into various selected positions, operating mechanism for said punch device in any selected position thereof, electromagnetic means controlling the operation of said mechanism and including controlling means for said electromagnetic means operated by said pointer.

16. A card perforating machine comprising a card holder, a punch device movable into difi'erent positionswith respect to a card in said holder, copy mechanism carrying said punch device and including a pointer for moving said punch device into various selected positions, operating mechanism for said punch device in any selected position thereof, electromagnetic means controlling the operation of said mechanism and including controlling means for said electromagnetic means carried by said pointer.'

17. A card perforating machine comprising a card holder, a punch device movable into different positions with respect to a card in said holder, means for selectively positioning said punch device with respect to the card including a pointer, and an index plate cooperating with said pointer and having a plurality of pointer engaging means operative to hold said pointer and said punch device in a selected set position, said pointer and index plate comprising cooperating contact members, and punch device operating mechanism controlled by said contact members.

18. A card perforating machine comprising a card holder, a punch device movable into different positions with respect to a card in said holder, means for selectively positioning said punch device with respect to the card including a pointer, and an index plate cooperating with said pointer and having a plurality of pointer engaging means operative to hold said pointer and said punch device in a selected set position, said pointer engageable means comprising recesses in said plate, said pointer having a part movable into holding engagement with said recesses. c

19. A card perforating machine comprising a card holder, a punch device movable over a card in said holder, means for setting said punch device in any selected position including an index plate having a plurality of differently positioned pointer holding means, and apointer operatively connected with said punch device having a part movable into releasable engagement with a selected pointer engageable means.

20. A card perforating machine comprising a card holder, a punch device movable over a card in said holder, means for selectively positioning said punch device with respect to the card com prising an index plate having a plurality of differently positioned recesses therein, a pointer having an operative connection withsaid punch device, and a plunger movable into selected recesses.

21. A card perforating machine comprising a card holder, a punch device movable over a card in said holder, means for selectively positioning said punch device with respect to the card including an index plate having a plurality of differently positioned recesses, a pointer having an operative connection with said punch device and a part depressible into said recesses, and means responsive to the depression of said depressible part for effecting the operation of said punch device.

22. A card perforating machine comprising a card holder, a punch device movable over a card in said holder, means for selectively positioning said punch device with respect to the card including an index plate having a plurality of differently positioned recesses, a pointer having an operative connection with said punch device and a part depressible into said recesses, and circuit controlling means responsive to the depression of said depressible part for eifecting the operation of said punch device.

23. A card perforating machine comprising a card holder, a punch device movable over a card in said holder, means for selectively positioning said punch device with respect to the card, comprising a perforated index plate, a contact plate underlying the perforations of said index plate, a pointer having an operative connection with said punch device and movable over said plate into register with selected perforations thereof, said pointer having a part movable into a perforation and into electrical engagement with said contact plate, and means responsive to the electrical engagement between said movable part of said plate for effecting a perforating operation of said punch device.

24. A card perforating machinecomprising a card holder, a punch device movable over a card in said holder, mechanism for operating said punch device in any position thereof, electromagnetic control means for said punch operating mechanism, and means for selectively positioning said punch device with respect to a card including a perforated index plate, a contact plate underlying the perforations of said index plate, a pointer having an operative connection with said punch device and movable into register with the perforations of said index plate selected at will, said pointer and said index plate constituting the terminals of an excitation circuit for said electromagnetic means, and said pointer having a part movable into a selected perforation of said plate and into circuit closing engagement with said contact plate whereby to eifect the operation of said punch operating mechanism.

25'. A card perforating machine comprising apointer, copying mechanism connecting; said;

card holder, a punch device movable over a card in said holder, means for operating said punch device inany position thereof, electro-magnetic means controlling the operationof said punch operating mechanism, and meansfor selectively positioningsaid punch device with respect to the card including arpointer having an operative connection with said punch device, a contact plate, means for'indicating predetermined set positions for said pointer into register with anyone of which said pointer is-movable at will, andmeans carried bysaid, pointer movable into electrical engagement with said plate, said last named meansandsaid plate constituting terminals of an excitation circuit for said electromagnetic means.

26. A card perforating machine comprising a card holder, a punch device movable over a card in said holder, means for operating said punch device in any position thereof, electromagnetic control means for said operating means, a

pointer and punch,device,;whereby said punch device is caused to be positioned. in :accordance with the positionofsaid. pointer, an index plate; over. which said-pointer is movable said index plunger arranged to be removably positioned,

within a-selected depression whereby to hold-said pointer and punch;- device: against unintended, movement, and a contact plate underlying saiddepressions and accessible therethrough', said pointer having aeontactpin movable into engage-.

ment withithe'contact plate saidncontact plate and pin constituting the terminabof anexoita tion circuit for said electromagnetic. means whereby electricalengagement of said plate,- and pinefiect a perforating. operation'of saidpunch device.

ROFF' ELLIO'IFI'. 

